1. (1) The office of school safety is hereby created within the office of the executive director. The executive director shall appoint a director of the office pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution. The office is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the executive director.

2. (2) The office has the following duties:

   1. (a) To oversee the center;
   2. (b) To administer the school access for emergency response grant program created in section 24-33.5-2104;
   3. (c) To promote equitable access to school safety support for all schools;
   4. (d) To assist schools in assessing any school safety challenges;
   5. (e) To assist schools in obtaining any available funding or grants related to school safety;
   6. (f) To provide technical assistance to schools to improve school safety;
   7. (g) To administer the youth violence prevention grant program;
   8. (g.5) To oversee the work group created in section 24-33.5-2706; and
   9. (h) Any other duties related to the implementation of this section.
3. (3) The director shall appoint a grants manager to assist schools in obtaining any funding or grants available pursuant to section 24-33.5-2703, any funding available pursuant to part 18 of article 33.5 of title 24, any funding available pursuant to part 21 of article 33.5 of title 24, and any other available funding related to school safety.
4. (4) The crisis response unit is hereby created within the office. The unit shall assist schools in responding to a crisis or emergency event.

Source: L. 2023: Entire part added, (SB 23-241), ch. 120, p. 447, § 13, effective April 27. L. 2025: (2)(g) amended and (2)(g.5) added, (SB 25-027), ch. 363, p. 1974, § 3, effective August 6.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 25-027, see section 1 of chapter 363, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.